February 7, 2009

Shout out to Darren Cole!

Check out the following video by a close personal friend of mine Darren Cole.

I love when my network of extremely talented black men shine.

BEE TEE DUBS.... ladies, let me know.... lol!!!


Fres & Dj Shortround- Locked & Loaded from Darren Cole on Vimeo.

Fres & Dj Shortround are a mc and producer duo from Milwaukee. I was given the privilege to shoot their first music video.



For more information on them:

www.djshortround.com

www.myspace.com/fresthao



tech specs:

Sony Hvr-a1u

Century Optics fisheye 0.3

Lowel tota light kit

contemplated by queenhatshepsut at 11:19 PM 0 outsider contributions

Extraneous Variables , ,

February 6, 2009

Going to Meet the Man - James Baldwin, 1948

Today, I had the pleasure of listening to Nikki Giovanni share her thoughts about cancer, family, friendship, death, and love. I love listening to poets speak. However, there is something special, something uniquely beautiful about a wise (wise with age and experience) black woman sharing her thoughts and ideas about life and the world around us. I love (I need a new word!) that I always see members of my family or people that I know within the spirits of other black people. That is so comforting. I believe that feeling speaks to the continuity of culture within the black community. If anyone ever said it was real, I said it.

Anyway, Nikki spoke on so much and in true africana fashion her speech was dynamic yet simply and quite plainly cyclical. It ended in a need for healing and clarity and a writer (poets) quest to solve those issues by writing. So she found healing in love and wrote a book of love poems called "Bicycles". She read a few poems from the book, they were wonderful my favorite: "Deal or no Deal". Buy the book if you come across it.

During the whole night with Nikki, which I was happy to partake in since school has yet to impede upon my life, I kept thinking about PJ... what he means to me and why he means so much. I love him and that is clear as day. and Nikki shed some serious light on the subject of love and emotions in general. Love is relative. No one can love like I can and no one will love me like they love somebody else. On the same note, that allows or even more clearly defines the inherent differences between sympathy and empathy. When a parent dies, a child is sick, a love is lost, I can easily sympathize with a person but it is impossible, literally for me to empathize with anyone and their feelings on any given situation. I am me, they are they and that is that.

Nevertheless, I know that I love PJ and everyday (may be a slight (very slight) exaggeration, but I have come to realize that is the beauty of story telling) he gives me another reason to appreciate his presence in not only my life but in the world in general. Apparently, he had an assignment to read the short story "Going to Meet the Man" by James Baldwin. For those of you who are not aware, I am a nerd, so when he said he was looking for it online to read, I quickly found it and read the story for myself. I guess my only point in mentioning that is to say we both sat, sideway glancing in the webcam via iChat and read the story. Copying and pasting points we wanted to make and exciting moments and overall...being nerdy. I love I have someone to do that with.

Since my reading has been slacking in 2009, I figured that I would take the time to reflect on some themes in the story. I need to write... it is February 7 (happy birthday boo!) and I have yet to sit in a class at the University of Delaware, this winter session stuff is BLOWING ME.

the story describes how a white man came to into "being", into being the man that he is. i want people to read it, its short so click the heading title to find all about it.

The story speaks on

sexuality

as a definition of masculinity

was a big, healthy man and he had never had any trouble
sleeping. And he wasn't old enough yet to have any trouble
getting it up—he was only forty-two. And he was a good man,
a God-fearing man, he had tried to do his duty all his life, and
he had been a deputy sheriff for several years. Nothing had
ever bothered him before, certainly not getting it up. Some-
times, sure, like any other man,


as a definition of humanity

he knew that he wanted a little
more spice than Grace could give him and he would drive over
yonder and pick up a black piece or arrest her, it came to the
same thing,


as a spectrum

the story mentions a variety of times what was arousing to the main character and what wasn't. sexuality in this story is not THIS or THAT, its a continuum of definition and relativity


hate

as a learned behavior

the author shows in the story that behaviors are not innate, especially behaviors relating to hatred, they are acquiesced possibly, but innate, not at all

as an excuse

an excuse for your own tragic flaws, mistakes, shortcomings....

it was a good read. if you have 30 minutes to spare.







----------------
Now playing: Martin Luther McCoy - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
via FoxyTunes

contemplated by queenhatshepsut at 11:47 PM 0 outsider contributions

Extraneous Variables , , ,

February 4, 2009

Giraffapuss

contemplated by queenhatshepsut at 10:53 PM 0 outsider contributions

Extraneous Variables

January 27, 2009

it's images.....let us use these images for inspiration


Change from Damian Steinberg on Vimeo.

I love Barack Obama!

contemplated by queenhatshepsut at 1:39 AM 0 outsider contributions

Extraneous Variables , ,

January 9, 2009

HAPPY NEW AND ALL THAT OTHER JAZZ

it's been a long while since I have written here.

On December 16, I took the long awaited trip back home to visit my family. It was the longest break that I have taken since my freshman year at Howard. I don't know why I had planned to be away from Delaware (my current home) for so long, but it proved to be more than beneficial, 100% necessary.

This Christmas break was one of the most amazing ones. However, before I get to that, I have to talk about my 2008. 2008 proved to be one of the most important learning experiences of my life (however, long or short one can consider 22 years of human existence). I am going to attribute the hallowed memory of 2008 to its general occurrence however there were a few things that stand out particularly.

TGI Fridays: All the DC homeys know that I spent 2 precious years as a privileged slave at TGI Fridays and the last 8 months I was there were the most important. I had established myself as bartender, had my own style and my own bar guests and had carved a very shallow hole of existence on the corner of 21st and Pennsylvania Avenue. The experience allowed me to meet A LOT of people, some of whom will continue to be important or at least influential members of my life in the future. However, I think I learned a great deal about myself and how I see myself as an individual, a human being, a black woman, a lover, a fighter, a daughter..... all that jazz.

Graduation: May 10, 2009, the kid became a degree holding citizen of the United States of America. I do not think the day its self really had an impact on me, but I think leaving Howard, leaving DC and just not being in undergrad anymore REALLY had (and continues to have) a profound impact on my life, habits, and ideology.

Egypt: I spent 3 glorious weeks in Egypt this summer and hands down without question, this experience from beginning to end was the most important of 2008. I wish I had written more about the experience while I was there, but those moments of spiritual enlightenment, intellectual stimulation, and imminent belonging and purpose will not be so clearly defined again in my life I am sure. Without question, I will continue to travel the globe and there is a good chance that I will do so with people I went to Egypt with but the first time will always be the most profound time.

Delaware: So, I quit DC. Literally, I dropped the city and relocated myself (for the sole purpose of attending graduate school) in Newark, Delaware. Humbling, enlightening, and challenging barely scratch the surface of the description of emotions felt the last few months. Each day, I am learning more and more about myself and that is beautiful. At the same time, I have no idea where I am going after this adventure and that is exciting and frightening simultaneously. I am glad I am here though. This space has given me tremendous opportunity and that I cannot deny.

Christmas Break: Hands down, the most exhilarating experience ever. I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with my family, especially my brothers. Hanging with the family was great. I spent the whole time in the house playing Playstation and other great "nonprofit family gaming" (Darius...I will never forget that statement).
As I write this, I am on the phone with one of the most amazing people I have ever met. He is just the definition of WHATS UP and I am so excited that we have decided to be together... like take the opportunity to grow together, I am so excited about it. Every day, every single day, I have been happy to just know him and be a part of what he's about and I just know that this going to prove beneficial to both of us in all kinds of ways..... I was so much more eloquent before I started talking about him, but thats what he does to me...

All of that brings me here, to this moment, reflecting on 22 years of life, on 2009, on a new chapter in my life and all I can say is that I am tremendously excited. I have done so much growing and have so much growing to do. I am embarking on a wonderful journey with an amazing individual who has already taught me so much and I am about to begin one of the most challenging positions of my professional and academic career.

and i am going to learn how to play the guitar....HAPPY NEW YEAR

contemplated by queenhatshepsut at 12:42 AM 0 outsider contributions

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